Comic Relief has revealed the plans for Red Nose Day 2017, which will take place on Friday 24th March.

Since it launched on TV in 1988, the comedian-led charity has raised over £1 billion pounds via its biennial charity drive. As in previous years, the 2017 Red Nose Day will be supported by many of Britain's best known comedians and comedy actors.

This year's plans include a night of TV comedy, live gigs, online sketches and a convoy through Africa. There are also a new set of red noses and official t-shirts to wear.

Red Nose Day on BBC One

As in previous years, BBC One will broadcast a night of comedy on Red Nose Day itself. This year's telethon will come live from a new location, described as "Comedy Superclub, Building Six, in the heart of The O2."

The organisers describe the planned TV show as "a mammoth night of live comedy, sketches, music moments, fundraising films and much much more on what promises to be TV's most unpredictable night of raucous horseplay ever."

The producers say: "The riotous revue will be bursting at the seams with comedy gems for everyone from eight to eighty to enjoy. There will be a musical mashup of epic proportions as a very well-known international music mega star collaborates on a special track with the stars of People Just Do Nothing aka Kurrupt FM - the second most popular pirate radio station in West London.

Speaking about Kurrupt FM's involvement, the 'self-proclaimed Mayor of Hounslow and Ultrapreneur', Chabbudy G says: "Doing Charity is one of the only ways you can make some serious money, tax free! Obviously it all goes to a good cause ;)."

There will also be comedy from Mrs Brown's Boys; Graham Norton will welcome a 'gaggle of guests' to a ludicrously long super-sized sofa; David Walliams will come face to face with his 'nemesis'; and Vic & Bob will resurrect their classic characters The Stotts to help out backstage.

The producers say: "All this is just the beginning as much more merriment, mirth and mischief for the big night itself will be announced over the coming months as we get closer to the biggest and best party on the planet."

Love Actually sequel

A 10-minute film that will revisit characters from the 2003 hit romantic comedy Love Actually and find out what their lives are like in 2017 will also be broadcast as part of Red Nose Day. Full story

Let's Sing and Dance

In the run up to Red Nose Day, Mel & Sue will return with Let's Sing And Dance. The Saturday night TV series will see comedians and celebrities "taking to the mic and busting out some moves as they have to sing as well as perfect the iconic dance routines from some of pops biggest hits."

This year's Red Noses "are a right bunch of characters". They are named Dr Nose, Sneezecake, The Snorcerer, Snuffles, DJ Boogie, Norse Nose, Snootankhamun, Sniffer and Nose-it-all. They're all available to find in surprise bags from Sainsbury's and Oxfam. Plus, a lucky few, could also snaffle up the ultra-rare silver Frankinose, which unlocks exclusive content in the Comic Adventure game.

Speaking about his involvement, Professor Hawking says: "I'm a world renowned scientist who has shaped our understanding of the universe and I am being asked to make snot jokes. I must really like this charity."

Comic Relief say: "Travelling in convoy, the famous six want to see for themselves how Comic Relief cash is hard at work improving access to essential healthcare in some of Africa's poorest communities.

Visits

For one of the films that will be spliced in amongst the comedy on Red Nose Night to encourage people to donate, Ed Sheeran visited children living on the streets of the Liberian capital Monrovia, many orphaned by the recent Ebola outbreak. During his trip, Sheeran visited the Street Child Liberia project which uses Comic Relief cash to help give vulnerable children a better future, reuniting them with their relatives and helping them get back into school.

The music star said: "I'll never forget the kids I met on this trip, when we sang together they were in such high spirits despite everything they'd been through. It was an incredibly eye opening experience and I'm really proud to support Comic Relief and see what they are doing to help these children have a better future."

Additionally, YouTubers Jim Chapman and Marcus Butler are kicking off an awareness campaign driven by the influencer community, to fight for change for vulnerable young people. They'll be vlogging about their recent trip to Sierra Leone where they saw the progress that is being made in communities to empower young people and create lasting change.

Red Nose Day Comedy Classroom

Comic Relief is also nurturing a future generation of 'comedy geniuses' as it launches the Red Nose Day Comedy Classroom, a new joke writing competition and literacy campaign for kids. The project is a collaboration between BBC Learning, Comic Relief, Blue Peter and the National Literacy Trust.

The competition aims to encourage children to have a giggle in the classroom and enter their best three jokes for the chance to see them performed live on a special Blue Peter programme for Red Nose Day, judged by a panel including Richard Curtis and Miranda Hart.

T-Shirts

A host of famous faces will be modelling the brand new official Red Nose Day T-Shirt range, including David Walliams and Ellie Taylor. The designs have been created by renowned photographer Rankin and feature a selection of unique, quirky and quintessentially British animal portraits including Coco the Cat, Albert the Bulldog and Charlie the Horse.

The T-shirt collection is available online at tkmaxx.com and rednoseday.com from 1st February and in TK Maxx stores nationwide from 13th February.

Share this page

This story was updated on: 15th January, to add Love Actually; 16th January, to update the online section.